Roger O. Hirson News

There are the warhorse musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin; there are the lavish productions befitting Phantoms in opera houses and French revolutionaries and revisionist fairy tales (and you know the ones I mean); there are the Disney powerhouses; and . . . there are musicals of a quaint, mind-nudging nature that don't quite fit into any category. Certainly THE FANTASTICKS comes to mind, and -- at least in the previous productions I have seen -- Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN. Somewhere in my video collection is a filmed version of the musical with William Katt, and just a few years ago PIPPIN was the first musical staged at the shiny, new Playhouse on the Square (with Alvaro Francisco stepping in for a sidelined Jordan Nichols). I sometimes think that small-scale musicals are better suited to venues less grand than the Orpheum; I needn't have worried, however, as PIPPIN has acquired the kind of theatrical, Cirque du Soleil-style atmosphere that perfectly suits the show's opening number, 'Magic to Do.'

The circus is in town and I ain't talking about Barnum & Bailey! The national tour of the 2013 revival of PIPPIN made its way to the Bayou City and I'm hippopotamusly happy to see this tour! When creative geniuses such as Bob Fosse and Stephen Schwartz are at the helm of the original material, there's no denying that a musical theatre maven such as myself would be overzealous.

Broadway in Boston has announced that tickets for the highly anticipated upcoming engagement of PIPPIN will go on sale to the public this Sunday, October 25th.  Following its acclaimed run at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA this captivating new production comes straight from Broadway where it won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival. PIPPIN will play a limited two week run at the Boston Opera House February 2 - 14, 2016 as part of the 2015-2016 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season.

Today in 1972, Pippin opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1944 performances. Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious acting troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The original cast included: Eric Berry, Jill Clayburgh, Leland Palmer, Irene Ryan, Ben Vereen, and John Rubinstein.

Ring in the New Year with the South Bay premiere of the thrilling 2013 Tony Award-winning musical PIPPIN - hailed as "an eye-popping, jaw-dropping, VISUALLY STUNNING extravaganza. 

Experience the thrilling 2013 Tony Award-winning musical PIPPIN - described as 'An eye-popping, jaw-dropping, VISUALLY STUNNING extravaganza. THE THRILL OF THE SEASON!' by NY1. PIPPIN, presented by Victoria Theatre Association, kicks off the 2015-2016 Premier Health Broadway Series with a one week engagement, tonight, Oct. 6, through Oct. 11, 2015 at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.

Experience the thrilling 2013 Tony Award-winning musical PIPPIN - described as "An eye-popping, jaw-dropping, VISUALLY STUNNING extravaganza. THE THRILL OF THE SEASON!" by NY1.  PIPPIN, presented by Victoria Theatre Association, kicks off the 2015-2016 Premier Health Broadway Series with a one week engagement, Oct. 6-11, 2015 at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.  Tickets are on sale now at Ticket Center Stage, located in downtown Dayton, or by calling 937-228-3630 or 888-228-3630 and online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

PIPPIN will play the Aronoff Center, October 13-18, 2015 as part of the 2015-2016 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati Season presented by TriHealth. Tickets will be on sale today, August 21 at 9AM at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS.

PIPPIN will play the Aronoff Center, October 13-18, 2015 as part of the 2015-2016 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati Season presented by TriHealth. Tickets will be on sale Friday, August 21 at 9AM at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS. Group orders of ten or more may be placed by calling 513.369.4363.

PIPPIN will play a limited engagement at The Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN November 17 - 22. Tickets for PIPPIN will go on sale to the public Today, July 31st at 10:00 AM and will be available for purchase online at the official Orpheum Theatre website, www.orpheum-memphis.com, The Orpheum Box Office (901.525.3000), the ticket counter at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, and all Ticketmaster centers (901.743.ARTS). 

PIPPIN will play Seattle's Paramount Theatre from August 16 - August 23, 2015. Tickets are available on-line at stgpresents.org and tickets.com, by calling 877-STG-4TIX (784-4849) or in person at select Ticketmaster locations and at The Paramount Theatre Box Office (Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm).

Since the 2014-15 Season at the Durham Performing Arts Center has wrapped up, I decided to give you guys my top picks for what were some of the best (and the worst) productions I saw this past season. I've seen many quality productions within the past year, with one little exception.

PIPPIN will play a limited engagement at The Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN November 17 - 22. Tickets for PIPPIN will go on sale to the public Friday, July 31st at 10:00 AM and will be available for purchase online at the official Orpheum Theatre website, www.orpheum-memphis.com, The Orpheum Box Office (901.525.3000), the ticket counter at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, and all Ticketmaster centers (901.743.ARTS). 

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus, began rehearsals today (pictured, left) for the world premiere musical Waitress. Based on the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly the new musical has a book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, direction by Diane Paulus, and choreography by Chase Brock.

Experience the thrilling 2013 Tony Award-winning musical PIPPIN - described as "An eye-popping, jaw-dropping, VISUALLY STUNNING extravaganza. THE THRILL OF THE SEASON!" by NY1.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus, announces the principal casting for the world premiere of Waitress. Based on the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly the new musical has a book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Sara Bareiles, direction by Diane Paulus, and choreography by Chase Brock.

Today in 1977, Pippin closed at the Minskoff Theatre, after having played 1944 performances. Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious acting troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The original cast included: Eric Berry, Jill Clayburgh, Leland Palmer, Irene Ryan, Ben Vereen, and John Rubinstein.

Experience the thrilling 2013 Tony Award-winning musical PIPPIN! Described as 'An eye-popping, jaw-dropping, VISUALLY STUNNING extravaganza and THE THRILL OF THE SEASON!' by NY1, PIPPIN will appear at Detroit's Fisher Theatre, tonight, June 9, through June 21.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that individual tickets for the Tony Award winning Broadway Musical PIPPIN will go on sale to the public on Friday, May 29.  PIPPIN will play Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W Randolph) for two weeks only, July 29 - August 9, 2015.

Bloodshed is par for the course during Tony Awards season, especially as it reaches its peak in the last handful of weeks leading up the big annual ceremony feting theatre's best, so today we take a look back at some of the absolute most brutal and tight Tony Award races for Best Musical in history. Although comparing a group of musicals - alike as dissimilar as they may be - may be an unfair proposition in practice, there is only one way a winner is decided when the Tony Awards rolls around and it unfortunately always finds fan favorites, critical darlings and a few commercial hits vying for top honors. There can only be one Best Musical - well, except for 1960 when there were actually two mainstage entertainments given the prize; THE SOUND OF MUSIC and FIORELLO, with no less than GYPSY ending up an also-ran. Who will claim the trophy on June 7? Tune in then to see!